This page contains links to the taxonomic systems and image galleries for the different
classes of the phylum PROTOZOA.

The taxonomy of protozoais a difficult task.
Protozoa are thought to be the origin for the evolution of all multi-cellular organisms to which belong the plants,
fungae, and animals. And according to the different trophic systems used by these kingdoms, i.e. either auto(photo)
trophic (plants) or heterotrophic (fungae, animals), there exist also purely auto- and heterotrophic groups of
protozoa which are then easily put into an plant or animal context. Though, there are also species with a somehow
intermediate trophic capability. They can, sucht as e.g. many dinflagellates, either be auto- and heterotrophic at
a time and are therefore called mixotrophic (or auxotrophic, when only vitamins or so are taken up from other
organisms) or, like e.g. some euglenophyceans, they exhibit an alteration from one to another form of trophic
system during their lifetime. Such species are found in almost all of the protozan classes, which are shown to the
right.In a way, protozoans can therefore be considered as an evolutionary playground or laboratory, in
which all ways of living are tried out.But, of course, this fact makes it also very complicated to sort
things out. The taxonomy given in this page only partially reflects the up-to-date taxonomy and it is certainly not
meant to cover the present knowledge in the field of porotozan systematics. Recent reviews on eukaryote and protozoan
taxonomy can be found in PDF format in the Literature section below.The pages contained in this PROTOZOA section
are rather thought to give some insights into this fascinating world of little creatures and to show, what enormous
diversity nature was able to create from one single cell.